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Volunteer at an Animal Rescue Center in Costa Rica

Alajuela, Costa Rica

Volunteer at an Animal Rescue Center in Costa Rica

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Trip Highlights

Meaningful volunteer work for conserving the wildlife in Costa Rica
Project located in the beautiful Central Valley not far from San Jose
Make the most of the opportunity to live with the wildlife and work for their welfare and development
Meet other like minded volunteers from around the world
First-hand learning opportunity while working with a team of experts

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Overview Program Requirements Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities Volunteer Work Schedule Living Costs Dates Reviews

Overview

Volunteers in this program get a unique opportunity to enjoy Costa Rica while helping the world become a better place for the animals we love. Volunteers in the project work at a non-profit wildlife rescue facility focusing on the care, rehabilitation, and study of Costa Rican wildlife. Every day they treat sick, injured, and orphaned animals that are affected by various threats including electrocution, dog and cat attacks and illegal pet trade. Animals that are usually in care are the Two-toed Sloth, Mantled Howler Monkey, White Faced Capuchin, White-nosed Coati, Kinkajou, Northern Raccoon, Nine- banded Armadillo, White-tailed Deer, Variegated Squirrel, Mexican Hairy Porcupine and Common Opossum, and a variety of birds.
The volunteers have a very meaningful role at the rescue centre, and their ongoing contribution has a real impact on the animals lives.
Volunteers in this project are mainly places in Alajuela in the Central Valley of Costa Rica.

Program Requirements

Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project.You need to have an open mind and a flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference. Participants must be fit and healthy at the time of joining the program and should be prepared to work outdoors and get their hands dirty. Participants in the program should have a keen interest and love for animal conservation work. Participants should have no criminal convictions and should provide a clean criminal background check report.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

This program gives volunteers the chance to experience wildlife working with some of the most amazing creatures on the earth.
Volunteers get involved in different tasks and can expect to do any of the following things while on the program :–

Feeding Animals
Animal enrichment tasks
Clean animal enclosures/compounds
Assist with rehabilitation and release efforts
Assist with any animal emergencies
Maintain animal shelters
Planting and gardening activities

Volunteer Work Schedule

Every volunteer group´s tasks will be slightly different each day. There is a 7-day rotation, so you don’t end up doing the same thing all the time. The general schedule is as follows :-

7:30am: Breakfast
8:45am: Morning meeting
8:45am: Start morning group tasks. This will usually be cleaning, giving water and food to the animals. Each animal enclosure needs raking/sweeping and scrubbing with water and disinfectant. You also need to remove the used food bowls and replace the water. You will not have to do every animal enclosure instead you have a list of the animals you need to care for each day. Other morning tasks include food preparation, watering the garden and collecting and moving the compost. Sometimes you will need to do a water check around 11am to make sure none of the animals have spilled their water and need more. Free time for projects (when finished)
12pm: Lunch (vegetarian and vegan options available)
Free time - popular time to be in the pool
1:30pm: Afternoon meeting
1:45pm: Start afternoon tasks. You will sometimes need to check the water in the enclosures and help prepare food for dinner.
4pm: Feeding time for some of the animals.
4:30pm: It will be one teams job to sort tree branches and place them into baskets for each animal that needs them (usually Monkeys and Sloths). Then you go to the enclosures and place the branches around for the animals to eat/play with.
6pm: Dinner
After dinner – Free time and night activities like bonfires and games are planned.

Living

At Volunteering Solutions we try to make sure that our volunteers are given the kind of comfort and flexibility they seek. In terms of airport pick up, stay, local travel or work and even city tour, we help our volunteers and facilitate everything for them.

Airport Transfer

Volunteers are picked up from the Juan Santamaria International Airport and transferred to the project site directly.

Orientation

All volunteers are given an orientation on the first day of the program whereby they are given introduction to the project, what to expect and explanation of roles and responsibilities.

Accommodation

Volunteers on this project are accommodated on-site at the Rescue Centre. There is a washing machine and clothesline available to clean your clothing. At the accommodation there is electricity, flush-able toilets, showers, and WiFi. Volunteers are recommended to bring a headlamp to get around at night, and to also bring hiking boots or tennis shoes. The dorm rooms for the volunteers have 6 bunk beds per room (same gender sharing only). The accommodation also has a pool, common area, and hammocks for relaxing during downtime.

Meals

Volunteers are provided with three meals a day. Our lovely cooks and volunteers prepare a variety of dishes for our communal meals, from traditional Costa Rican food to a mix of international dishes.
There is a vegetarian option at every meal. If you have specific dietary needs, please inform us ahead of time and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. Volunteers are expected to pitch in and help with the cooking and cleaning up.

During your Free Time

During their free time at the project, volunteers usually relax, read books, spend time in the pool or socialize with other volunteers in the project. You can also head out to San Jose for a day during the weekend.

Dates

2024

2025

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Past Date

Available

Unavailable

Filling Fast

Costs

1 Week $600

2 Weeks $1000

3 Weeks $1400

4 Weeks $1800

5 Weeks $2150

6 Weeks $2500

7 Weeks $2850

8 Weeks $3250

Extra Week $450

Please Note: -An application fee of $249 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 5% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment)

What are you Paying for?

24 hrs Assistance and support from VS Staff
Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
Pickup from San Jose International Airport and transfer to project
Orientation
Local Team support
Accommodation in dorms at the project and release center
3 Meals a day

Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)

What's NOT included?

Airfare
Visa
Vaccinations
Weekend trips and excursions
Any personal expenses
Travel insurance (available at nominal cost)
Post project stay in Costa Rica
Return Airport Drop

Reviews

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Frequently asked questions

: It is advised to apply for the projects once the volunteering/ traveling dates are decided as there are limited spots available. The application fee is valid for one full year and can be sent earlier than the desired period of volunteering, for timely confirmation of the seat. As soon as you decide the travel dates, we suggest you to apply for the program and hold your spot. We abide by the first come first serve policy.
: Usually, it takes around 10-12 working days for the application to be processed and placement to be confirmed. After we review your CV and documents, your booking is confirmed and the booking confirmation is updated in your My Account and you can view the information in your account. The application acceptance depends on the availability of seats in the project as well as the eligibility criteria of the program (age, skills and experience etc.).
: Below are the necessary requirements to participate in the Costa Rica volunteer projects:
Volunteers must be 17 years or older for Teaching, Childcare, and Spanish Immersion at the beginning of the program. For all other programs, you need to be 18 years or older.
Volunteers joining the medical volunteer project must be either Pre-Medical, Medical or Nursing student or possess other qualifications related to medical and nursing field. Medical professionals such as doctors and nurses are also welcome to join the program.
Volunteers need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment.
The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.
The participant must be in good health.
Knowledge of Spanish (basic to intermediate) is necessary for all the programs.
: Yes, you are welcome to take part in Costa Rica Volunteer Programs as part of a group. We welcome families, friends, high school students, college/university and corporate groups to volunteer together in the Costa Rica volunteer programs.
: Yes, most definitely you can, as we believe that every participant brings something new to the project. If you do not have previous experience, we offer you the opportunity to have a great start with us. We make international volunteering easy – not only are our Volunteer Abroad opportunities rooted in offering you extensive support, but they are also very affordable.
: Yes, we will provide you with the Certificate after successful completion of your program. The certificate is provided on request.
: All volunteers have to arrive one day before their program start date. You can view your arrival dates here. Volunteers are picked up from the Juan Santamaria Airport by the local coordinator or representative and taken to the respective host family accommodations. On the next day, i.e. Monday, there will be an orientation session which will cover the program highlights and provide you details about the city. You will get to know about the local culture, marketplaces, ATMs, internet cafes and where to shop for your daily essentials. On Monday, volunteers would also be required to take a Spanish test to assess their Spanish knowledge.

To add to the project experience, you can also join the Spanish Immersion Week which gives you a crash course in Spanish and even tests your current Spanish skills which would help you in volunteering, and you would also get a chance to experience Costa Rican culture, learn cooking and Latino dancing before beginning the program.

Note: Host accommodation is located in suburbs of San Jose in the Heredia and Santa Barbara areas, along with your projects placements.
: The Childcare, Teaching and the Medical Healthcare projects are located near San Jose, primarily in the areas of Heredia and Santa Barbara.

The Turtle Conservation project is located in both Pacific and the Caribbean coasts.

The Wildlife and Animal Rescue Center is located 4km away from Puerto Viejo and 220km from San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital.
: Participants (most nationalities) require a Tourist Visa to travel to Costa Rica. Travelers from most countries can get a 90-day permit stamped on their passport on arrival.We advise you to check with your nearest Costa Rican embassy as well.
: Juan Santamaría International Airport is well connected with direct flights coming in from different destinations in the US and South America. For volunteers coming from North America, following Airlines are recommended:
US Airways
Delta

For those flying in from Europe, direct flights are available, and the recommended airlines are:
Condor
Iberia
: Costa Rica is a tourist friendly and safe destination. Volunteering Solutions is very particular about the safety of its international volunteers. We have stringent selection criteria for host family accommodation. You will be given safety precautions and instructions by the local coordinator team during the orientation as well as in your Pre-departure handbook after you become an enrolled participant. Apart from that, we advise volunteers to consult their in-country coordinators before embarking on a weekend trip or going on a night out.
: All participants are recommended to consult their physician or travel doctor before traveling to Costa Rica. To view the general list of vaccinations recommended for your travel to Costa Rica, click here.
: Yes, for all participants, it is mandatory to have a valid travel medical insurance for their trip. Volunteers have the option to purchase Travel and Medical Insurance at a nominal extra cost from Volunteering Solutions. To provide the best option to our participants, we offer comprehensive insurance coverage in collaboration with a leading insurance provider.

If you already have a valid Travel and Medical insurance, you can email us a copy of the same. It is also advised to bring along the Insurance documents during your trip.
: We encourage volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions Costa Rica program participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook Group to communicate with other participants.

To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit ?the Meet a Volunteer section on our website.
: Volunteers working in Turtle Conservation Project stay in ranger house, host family or volunteer house accommodations close to the project near the beach. Dorm-style accommodation is provided where you will be sharing rooms with other volunteers (same gender basis). Upon arrival in Costa Rica, volunteers are provided lodging in a host family accommodation in Heredia or Santa Barbara. After completing the orientation and project introduction on the first days, volunteers join their respective Turtle Conservation Project in either Pacific or Caribbean Coast.

For all other projects, volunteers will be staying with host families. More details about the host families would be provided after you apply for the program. Volunteers would be provided meals 2 times a day.

Volunteers working in the animal rescue center project in Puerto Viejo are provided accommodation in a hostel in San Jose on arrival. While at the project volunteers stay at a dorm style hostel accommodation. Meals are not included but volunteers cook their own meals at a fully equipped kitchen.
: Unfortunately, the entire volunteering experience is as much about volunteering on your project, as it is about the cross-cultural exchange and community building. A lot of that happens through the accommodation that we have set up, where one can enjoy by being with like-minded people. Additionally, for safety reasons, all volunteers must live in the allotted accommodation.
: Yes, however, you must inform us in advance and also mention about any dietary requirement in your application form.
: Depending on your project placement, you will get evenings and the weekends free to travel and explore the place. In the evenings, volunteers usually get together and go out for social gatherings, eat out or just relax at the volunteer house. Weekends are free for the volunteers and you can go for short weekend trips. There’s actually so much to do in Costa Rica. Visit Nicoya Peninsula, Arenal Volcano, Corcovado National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Tabacón Hot Springs, San José, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Tortuguero National Park and much more.
The local coordinators will be happy to help you with more information.
: Your program fee does not cover your personal expenses. You will need to provide for yourself your personal expenses, such as bottled water, local transport, telephone, shopping, sightseeing etc. However, you should carry around $70-$80 per week for your basic personal expenses. This amount can vary and you would need a higher amount if you choose to go on weekend trips out of town.
: Volunteers usually work for 4 to 6 hours a day depending on their program. You will have weekends off so you can travel on weekends. However, volunteers need to be flexible, open-minded and understand that work requirements can change as well on certain occasions.
: You can change money upon your arrival at Juan Santamaria Airport or from the bank. There is a good network of ATMs as well.